A new carbon‑conversion technology developed by RMIT University researchers could one day help transform industrial carbon emissions into ingredients for jet fuel, offering a potential tool in the push toward low‑emissions aviation.
The system simplifies how carbon dioxide is recycled, combining the processes of carbon removal and conversion into a single step.
This integration reduces the high energy use and complexity that have long limited carbon recycling technologies in industrial environments.
Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma from RMIT’s School of Science said traditional carbon conversion methods required multiple, energy‑intensive stages.
“Current approaches had often been inefficient and energy‑intensive,” Ma said.
“By bringing the steps of conversion together, we have been able to simplify the process and reduce unnecessary energy losses.”
The RMIT system converts carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust gases into basic chemical building blocks that can later be refined into jet fuel or other products normally derived from fossil resources.
While the system does not directly produce fuel, it enables carbon captured from emissions to re‑enter the production cycle in a cleaner form.
Aviation remains one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise. Electric aircraft are not yet feasible for long‑distance routes, and global demand for sustainable aviation fuels far exceeds supply.
Rather than replacing existing technologies, RMIT’s system supports them by producing carbon‑based precursors near emission sources such as refineries or manufacturing plants.
Dr Peng Li, lead author of the study, said improving efficiency and practicality was central to the design.
“Our approach has reduced the number of processing steps and lowered energy demand compared with conventional systems,” Li said.
“The RMIT system operates without the need for highly purified carbon dioxide, which is important in real industrial environments.”
The research, published in Nature Energy, outlines a fully integrated, low‑energy carbon‑conversion process.
Independent expert Dr Federico Dattila from the Polytechnic University of Turin noted that the team’s advance “brought industry a step closer to low‑energy systems that can convert CO₂ in a fully integrated process”.
To test its performance outside the lab, the RMIT team has completed a three‑kilowatt prototype and plans to develop a 20‑kilowatt pilot system next.
The project is backed by collaborations with companies including Viva Energy, Hart Bioenergy, T‑Power, Aqualux Energy, CO2CRC, ViPlus Dairy and CarbonNet.
Ma said these partnerships are essential for bringing the technology from concept to commercial reality.
“Scaling up has to happen hand in hand with industry,” he said.
“That is the only way to understand what would work in practice and what still needs improvement.”
The team aims to build a 100‑kilowatt demonstration system within five years and reach commercial‑scale readiness in about six.
Hart Bioenergy chief executive Doug Hartmann said the development offered both environmental and operational advantages.
“This innovation has shown how emissions reduction could go alongside cost efficiency and better energy use,” he said.
“It points to production processes that can benefit the environment without ignoring economic realities.”
RMIT is now preparing to launch a spin‑off company to explore commercial pathways for the technology, focusing on large‑scale testing and integration with existing industrial systems.
Ma emphasised that the technology forms part of a broader transition rather than a single solution.
“This is not a silver bullet,” he said.
“It is about developing practical tools that could help industries and governments reduce emissions while making use of existing systems during the transition to cleaner fuels.”
